Cat vs V (Why did you pick one over the other)

[HPBoats83]

The title kind of says it all, I've always been a V guy as that's more/less what I've grown up with and what my family had. I am more and more curious how a cat would handle the various water conditions of Havasu compared to a V, I think my family as they are getting a little older would enjoy the ride of one better but it's hard to say.

 

[81eliminator]

The title kind of says it all, I've always been a V guy as that's more/less what I've grown up with and what my family had. I am more and more curious how a cat would handle the various water conditions of Havasu compared to a V, I think my family as they are getting a little older would enjoy the ride of one better but it's hard to say.

What size are you thinking?

 

[Mikes56]

My first boat was a 202XR and we got the crap beat out of us one holiday weekend in Havasu. I traded that in that weekend for a new 25’’ Nordic Rage, which is a V hull. The Nordic was way better than the 202XR, but the big chop was still bad.

Now I have a 28’ Conquest Topcat 1, which is a cat hull. I still clench my teeth when I see a big wave coming, but if I’m going fast enough to have air packed under the cat hull, it goes over the rough water fairly well. I still have to slow down for that big paddle boat that goes from the Casino to the channel.

 

[HPBoats83]

What size are you thinking?

I'd say for the sake of discussion an "average size boat" 25' - 30' ish. No MTI, Skater, etc.... maybe a Daytona type deal

 

[Mikes56]

My buddies 25’ pontoon is the most comfortable boat I’ve ever been in. It takes the rough water better that anything I’ve been in.
I see a pontoon in my future as I get older and not liking to get beat up. Maybe take a ride in a pontoon?

 

[LazyLavey]

I've had a Lavey Sebring (ModVP) and love everything about the tunnel.... Performance, wake (or lack of) except of maybe crossing the bay at the mouth of Havasu....

Currently have a Lavey 21XTSki...... Fits within a fraction of an inch, great family set-up, solid boat

I'd for sure have a Deck Boat Cat if I could get it in the garage...

 

[DWC]

We went from a 21’ Nautique to a deck boat to try to smooth out Havasu a bit. It was just too rough on busy or windy days. I would think that the ride on a 28’/29’ V would be similar to the same size cat. The deciding factor for us was ease of boarding and people capacity. Tough to beat the versatility of a deck.
For pure ride @Mikes56 is right IMO. Can’t beat a toon. The bigger toons just crush normal havasu stuff. I’d love to toss a gyroscope (or whatever would measure movement) and drive from Topock to the Springs in a deck, big V and toon. I’d put my money on the toon.

 

[Bpracing1127]

I'd say for the sake of discussion an "average size boat" 25' - 30' ish. No MTI, Skater, etc.... maybe a Daytona type deal

A 25 daytona will eat up whatever havasu dishes up.

I put it like this.
A 25 daytona is like a corvette, it’s loud aggressive and meant to drive hard and fast.
A deck boat is more like a Mercedes. Lots of room, big and heavy car still goes fast but is more of a cruiser.
A vee bottom is more like a truck to me. Does everything, slow speed wakeboarding can go fast but not the most comfortable at speed. Handling depends on size and speed.

Edit. I have a 1000 hours driving a Daytona with 800 hp
500 or so driving a deck boat with mild and 1100 hp
About 700 driving 23-28 vee with mild horsepower 600 or less

 

[retaocleg]

depends on the brand......some cats are better in the rough than the v's...........cushion of air limits the pounding

 

[retaocleg]

I've had a Lavey Sebring (ModVP) and love everything about the tunnel.... Performance, wake (or lack of) except of maybe crossing the bay at the mouth of Havasu....

Currently have a Lavey 21XTSki...... Fits within a fraction of an inch, great family set-up, solid boat

I'd for sure have a Deck Boat Cat if I could get it in the garage...

i had a 23(they called it a 22-10) tunnel lavey with a blown 496.........great in small/moderate chop and in a straight line, but man! bow steer city! no beers when driving........it was fast tho............countering waves would steer the boat unless the nose was way up, and it wouldnt carry the nose till 60......so it was 60 or nothing, and my ex wife was less than impressed with that(not the boating type)

 

[fat rat]

I have had both….I’ll take a tunnel any day! Just something about that cushion of air.

 

[Icky]

I can tell you a 2000 ish 28 advantage party cat rides nothing like a 25 Daytona. The Daytona will float over things and the party cat bounces and hits harder.

 

[MOUZER]

if i was running to catalina and back i would prefer a V bottom cig over a cat.........my 2 cents

 

[Gelcoater]

I’ll be the outlayer who votes V drive flatty

 

[FlyByWire]

Had a 25 tremor (v)
Had a 22 deck (“cat”)
Currently in a 25 tri toon.

I miss the SHIT out of the 22 deck, but it’s not the best boat for Havasu.

I’d really love to get back into a cat… (25/27 Daytona walkthrough or a 28 deck of sorts)

The tremor was really versatile, but the deck rode so much better.

The toon is great for the kids but fuck me is it boring to drive, even with a 400.

 

[HBCraig]

I've driven both. My current boat is an Ultra 247. It's super fun but it a drivers boat at speed. It deals with wind chop well bit Saturday afternoon boat chop sucks.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

We’ve had a 26 Eagle XP on Havasu. That handled pretty much everything well, but even it could get overwhelmed by the really bad washing machine conditions or wind blown rollers.

Since switched to a 30 Eagle and so far I haven’t seen conditions on Havasu that really challenge it. It handles everything that the 26 struggled with.

We used to have a 21 Eliminator V and a 23 Eagle XP and both were too small for anything moderate and up.

I have no experience with cats or toons having never owned either. As always, YMMV depending on driving style and passenger comfort.

 

[Mcob25rg]

25 Daytona is the best fresh water hull ever built

 

[Instigator]

I am surprised that none of you guys have pointed out the obvious.
There Is NO one perfect do all boat. There are some that can handle a couple different environments or tasks better than others but at the end of the day you must understand that you need to either settle or limit your tasks or environments and pick a boat that can best multi-task those environments OR come to the reality that you truly need 3 very different boats.
Carry on.
Lol

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

25 Daytona is the best fresh water hull ever built

Best ever? Ever ever?

 

[Instigator]

25 Daytona is the best fresh water hull ever built

I actually preferred the American Offshore 2600 myself.
But like anything there are trade offs between them. Daytona had better rigging and fit and finish but the AO 2600 was faster with same power and rode much better and had way more room in it. 2 different bottoms which will start a whole other debate.
Lol

 

[Icky]

25 Daytona is the best fresh water hull ever built

I dunno, I rode in a 27 speedster that put it to shame 🫠.

 

[81eliminator]

I'd say for the sake of discussion an "average size boat" 25' - 30' ish. No MTI, Skater, etc.... maybe a Daytona type deal

I had a 25 Daytona, it handled Havasu pretty good, I now have a 24 Schiada and it handles Havasu pretty good.
Skiing and tubing with the Daytona is not easy. The 24 Schiada ski's and tubes great. Grand kids are into skiing and tubing so it works better for us right now.
the Daytona was good for 104mph, the Schiada, 65 mph.
Kinda depends on what you want to do and how fast you want to do it.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I am surprised that none of you guys have pointed out the obvious.
There Is NO one perfect do all boat. There are some that can handle a couple different environments or tasks better than others but at the end of the day you must understand that you need to either settle or limit your tasks or environments and pick a boat that can best multi-task those environments OR come to the reality that you truly need 3 very different boats.
Carry on.
Lol

Well for those of us who boat on larger lakes like the 4 on the river and can’t pick our weekends and have to deal with conditions as we find them, I prefer something that can eat up wakes and rollers and get me where I’m going without beating the crap out of the boat and the passengers.

We had a 23 Malibu Wakesetter LSV once and we tried going up to the city for lunch. Some passengers were going to need therapy by the time we got there. I hated that boat if the water wasn’t glass. Dumped it for the 26 Eagle and never looked back.

 

[Lunatic Fringe]

I am surprised that none of you guys have pointed out the obvious.
There Is NO one perfect do all boat. There are some that can handle a couple different environments or tasks better than others but at the end of the day you must understand that you need to either settle or limit your tasks or environments and pick a boat that can best multi-task those environments OR come to the reality that you truly need 3 very different boats.
Carry on.
Lol

Only 3?
I'm currently at 5 and looking to add a cabin cruiser.

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Single step, 25 Daytona is the best fresh water hull ever built

Fixed it for accuracy.

When I had my 25 Daytona, It was big enough for Havasu, no question. Now, on the busiest days, I don't think so. I got thrown around pretty good in my Skater during DS.

 

[Happy Smitty]

I've been in shitty weather at Havasu, Mojave and Powell. Powell was the worst. Hallett 290 handled all of it quite well. The worst part of it was rain. It hurts. Glad I have the grandpa windshield that blocked most of it.

 

[MR HARLEY]

Love our cat.

 

[boatnam2]

I actually preferred the American Offshore 2600 myself.
But like anything there are trade off between them. Daytona had better rigging and fit and finish but the AO 2600 was faster with same power and rode much better. 2 different bottoms which will start a whole other debate.
Lol

I will second that, AO was a sweet riding boat.

 

[Croz]

I am surprised that none of you guys have pointed out the obvious.
There Is NO one perfect do all boat. There are some that can handle a couple different environments or tasks better than others but at the end of the day you must understand that you need to either settle or limit your tasks or environments and pick a boat that can best multi-task those environments OR come to the reality that you truly need 3 very different boats.
Carry on.
Lol

Boats are like surfboards and snowboards, you need a “quiver” for different days and conditions, for what you’re looking to do. Comparable to a choppy blown out small day on a surf board, to a powder day on a snowboard. The right board/boat changes everything for what you’re looking to do. Boats are just a lot more fuckin expensive. I bet I made alot of you feel old right now lol

 

[mjc]

I loved my 29 fountain for rough water but now have a pontoon which plows through anything but I don't do weekends any more.

 

[SCHIADATROUBLE]

I love cats and the way they ride but the wide open front scared me with little kids. I bought the deep bee for safety and although it’s not as easy on and off the wife and I dig the safety aspect.

 

[throttle]

Don't hear about it that much anymore, but insurance prices for a cat used to scare lots of peeps out of a cat. Deck boats were a way around a cat, until the underwriters started paying closer attention. Consumers / boaters would get a reduced rate by placing a Lay-up period on their policies where they could not operate their boat.

I have always had V's until the toon. I always felt it was functional for the family.

 

[HPBoats83]

I loved my 29 fountain for rough water but now have a pontoon which plows through anything but I don't do weekends any more.

I miss my 29 Fountain for Havasu

 

[Tank]

I’ve always been a vee guy because I always lived and boated mostly in the ocean. Now it’s about 50/50 but I like the rough water capabilities of a big heavy vee. In the 25 years I’ve been boating in havasu I’ve never once even considered not running because it was “rough”. Shit, I look forward to white caps on havasu, that’s when it’s getting fun. Ocean? Not so much. Lol

 

[Englewood]

If ride is the main concern, get a toon. I can just mash the throttle and go. 50-60mph passing almost every deck boat out there when it’s choppy.

 

[81Sprint]

On my 19' Daytona when I see a wake coming I tense up just from instinct and surprisingly it will glide over most of the time. With my 20' V hull cruiser, I feel that wake. I had a 24' modified V-hull tunnel that rode really well, best of both worlds. A 25' Daytona will eventually be in my garage, friend of mine had one and it was probably the best riding boat I have been in.

 

[Rajobigguy]

I couldn’t make up my mind which way to go so I bought a Flotilla. Sort of a cross between a performance cat and a tri-toon.
Actually makes for a pretty good all around boat. It’s not very fast (sub 50) but it’s roomy with plenty of storage and handles the afternoon Havasu chop better than most.

 

[C-Ya]

I guess I will be the first on this thread to point out the obvious……..

Not all V-bottoms are the same. The angle of the Vee makes a huge difference in the ride through rough water.

For instance, a 24 degree bottom will cut through chop much better than a 16 degree bottom. In fact, a 16 degree bottom will put your boat in Pound Town.

Lifting strakes, chimes, reverse chimes, all make a difference too.

But to answer the generic question in the title of this thread……… I switched to a Cat, for the smoother “overall” ride.

I also agree with whoever said there is NO best boat. They are ALL compromises. The perfect boat does not exist because conditions change. The best you can do is find what works best for your boating needs.

My 28’ Playcraft Tritoon ate the chop at Havasu much better than my 21’ Hallett, which is all I cared about at that time.

 

[traquer]

I think you ultimately need to drive the boat you *think* you want. For example, I see a lot of people mention the Daytona 25, but I don't think the family could deal with having to always climb onto the front deck just to get off at the beach. Uncomfortable and I see lots of scratches, the alternative is you have to offload all the gear from the rear into/over the water.. Everything is a tradeoff haha

 

[Blackmagic94]

Cats are more dangerous, end of story

 

[Bpracing1127]

Cats are more dangerous, end of story

Bullshit

 

[Blackmagic94]

Bullshit

Lol, I guess Tres Martin doesnt know what he is preaching then.


T

 

[RaceTec]

I am an idiot but a Lavey 2750 closed bow on an aluminum trailer is still my dream boat. Could do the big blue and Havasu... I will keep my Hallett for Parker, needing to drive it is half of the fun!

 

[Bpracing1127]

Lol, I guess Tres Martin doesnt know what he is preaching then.


T

That statement doesn’t make sense at all. Cats are no more dangerous than vee bottoms.

I will add we are talking real boats here not 1+ million dollar skaters and mti that push 200 mph.

25 daytona isn’t anymore dangerous than a 25 eagle with same power

 

[Blackmagic94]

That statement doesn’t make sense at all. Cats are no more dangerous than vee bottoms.

I will add we are talking real boats here not 1+ million dollar skaters and mti that push 200 mph.

25 daytona isn’t anymore dangerous than a 25 eagle with same power

Tres said small cats are statically the most dangerous performance boats, so maybe take it up with him then.

 

[Cole Trickle]

That statement doesn’t make sense at all. Cats are no more dangerous than vee bottoms.

I will add we are talking real boats here not 1+ million dollar skaters and mti that push 200 mph.

25 daytona isn’t anymore dangerous than a 25 eagle with same power

I don't know about that.


I just think cats give you smaller room for error.

Traditional v is hard to get in trouble.

Cats and stepped hulls and un experienced boaters or quick twitch situations i don't think most boats will handle a bad situation like a standard v.

 

[Blackmagic94]

I don't know about that.


I just think cats give you smaller room for error.

Traditional v is hard to get in trouble.

Cats and stepped hulls and un experienced boaters or quick twitch situations i don't think most boats will handle a bad situation like a standard v.

Exactly,

Tres said, "the safest performance boat is a flat bottom cig style boat"

 

[Bpracing1127]

I don't know about that.


I just think cats give you smaller room for error.

Traditional v is hard to get in trouble.

Cats and stepped hulls and un experienced boaters or quick twitch situations i don't think most boats will handle a bad situation like a standard v.

I still stand behind this statement the boat isn’t the problem it’s the driver any idiot can crash any boat. The room for error might be smaller on a cat. But again it’s all on driver. The boat isn’t the problem is the operator

 

[Blackmagic94]

I still stand behind this statement the boat isn’t the problem it’s the driver any idiot can crash any boat. The room for error might be smaller on a cat. But again it’s all on driver. The boat isn’t the problem is the operator

Agreed. But some hulls are more inherently dangerous.


Also a 25 Daytona is more dangerous then a 25 eagle.

The reason why is speed alone. The cat will be faster with same power and speed means you are moving more feet per second and gives less time to react and stop.